The Mayor’s Charitable Trust

In May 2023, we were delighted to be selected as the Mayor's Charity of the Year 2023-24, alongside Voices of Hope - a Kingston charity dedicated to bringing hope to individuals and the wider community through community-based projects.

“As a councillor for the past 9 years, and having worked in the voluntary sector for many more, I am very aware how lucky we are in the Royal Borough where our voluntary sector is outstanding. I am looking forward to this year; meeting the very special residents of our borough who do so much for our communities.

I am privileged to be working with two amazing charities. Both had small beginnings and over the last few years, their dedication and passion has seen them expand to support ever more”

- Cllr Diane White

“We were delighted to be invited to be a chosen mayoral Charity of the Year, together with Voices of Hope. The team at Kingston Charitable Foundation and I are really looking forward to working with our new Mayor, Cllr Diane White and her team; both in fundraising and raising awareness of the theme she has chosen for the forthcoming year, 'Every Child Matters'“

- Hicky Kingsbury, CEO of Kingston Charitable Foundation

Are you our new Event Volunteer?

After being announced as the Mayor of Kingston upon Thames' and Kingston Chamber of Commerce's Charity of the Year, the next 12 months will be our busiest yet. So busy in fact, that we're looking for a talented Event Volunteer to join our team - could it be you? Contact our team on volunteering@kingstoncf.org.uk.

Kingston Charitable Foundation is delighted that Voices of Hope has been selected alongside our organisation, to be one of the Mayor's Charities of the Year.

We know first-hand of the incredible work that Voices of Hope undertake, and we’re proud to have supported them with three previous grants, enabling them to:

Create a safe garden for a single mother of two children, one of whom has additional needs

Purchase outfits for female survivors of domestic violence for ‘The Pearl Project’ graduation event

Train young people in cooking skills, and feed people without homes in a local shelter.

About Voices of Hope

Voices of Hope, founded in 2019, run a variety of community projects in and around Kingston upon Thames.

They seek to restore hope in people and support them to rebuild their lives, equipping them both practically and emotionally through their three main project areas:

  • Creative Arts, running the Active Breathing Course and 13 community choirs, including choirs for women facing multiple disadvantages and dementia choirs 

  • Food, with their BRITE Box project distributing over 10,000 recipe boxes last year to enable families to cook healthy meals on a budget

  • Women, supporting women facing multiple disadvantages and abuse by leading the Kingston Women's Hub

Voices of Hope believe that with support and encouragement people can thrive and reach their full potential and are currently supporting over 2,300 people a week.